Image processing apparatus

Abstract

An image processing apparatus for detecting a desired image-element from a given image, includes: a storing unit for storing a plurality of first templates indicating the desired image-element and a plurality of second templates stored corresponding to the first templates, each of the second templates indicating a part of a corresponding one of the first templates; the first comparing unit for selecting any of the first templates and comparing the selected first template with the given image; and the second comparing unit for comparing a second template corresponding to the selected first template selected by the first comparing unit with the given image; and a detecting unit for detecting the desired image-element from the given image based on the comparison results by the first and second comparing units.

1. An image processing apparatus for detecting a desired image-element from a given image, comprising:
 a storing unit operable to store a plurality of first templates indicating said desired image-element and a plurality of second templates stored corresponding to said plurality of first templates, each of said second templates indicating a part of a corresponding one of said plurality of first templates; 
 a first comparing unit operable to select any one of said first templates and compare said selected one first template with said given image; and 
 a second comparing unit operable to compare only said second templates indicating a part corresponding to said selected one first template selected by said first comparing unit with said given image; and 
 a detecting unit operable to detect said desired image-element from said given image based on the comparison results by said first and second comparing units, 
 wherein the storing unit stores an interrelationship between a first position indicated by one of said second templates in said first template and a second position indicated by the other of said second templates in said first template. 
 
     
     
       2. An image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said storing unit stores at least one first template that corresponds to said plurality of second templates. 
     
     
       3. An image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said storing unit stores at least one second template that corresponds to other one of said second templates. 
     
     
       4. An image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said storing unit stores a second template that has a higher resolution than that of said corresponding first template. 
     
     
       5. An image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a history storing unit, said history storing unit storing a used history of the template used by said detecting unit, wherein
 said first comparing unit selects the first template to be used, based on the used histories of a plurality of first templates stored in said history storing unit, and 
 said second comparing unit selects the second template to be used, based on the used histories of the second templates stored in said history storing unit. 
 
     
     
       6. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storing unit is adapted to store an interrelationship between the plurality of first templates and the plurality of second templates. 
     
     
       7. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storing unit is adapted to store an interrelationship between positions in the first template respectively shown by a plurality of second templates. 
     
     
       8. The image processing apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first comparing unit is configured to further calculate a first coincidence between said selected one first template and said given image; 
 said second comparing unit is configured to further calculate one or more second coincidences between said second templates indicating a part corresponding to said selected one first template and said given image; and 
 said detecting unit is configured to detect said desired image-element from said given image based on a coincidence between said desired image-element and said given image, said coincidence being acquired by using the sum of a first weight coefficient multiplied by said first coincidence and a second weight coefficient multiplied by said second coincidences.